Highways

• Indiana has an extensive network of major roadways including 14 interstate highways that provide 1,100 miles of expressways across the state.
• With 60 percent of the U.S. population within a day’s drive, Indiana is well positioned for logistics success.
• East Central Indiana is served by three major interstate highways, I-69 (North/South), I-74 (East/West), and I-70 (East/West).
• When it comes to moving freight, East Central Indiana has a distinct cost advantage. An impressive grid of highway connections provides quick access to Interstates I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74, I-75 and I-465.

Trucking

• Indiana ranks 10th in the country in the number of trucking establishments.
• Trucks annually haul more than 5.7 billion tons of cargo for Indiana, including a high volume of NAFTA trade.

Rail

Indiana has a strategic advantage located at the crossroads of America’s 139,500 mile rail network. It ranks third in the nation with 42 railroads, including five major Class I lines. Additional regional, local and switching railroads serve smaller communities, manufacturing plants and terminals.

Air

• Indiana has 405 commercial and private airports
• Indiana has the second largest FedEx Express air hub in the world located at the Indianapolis International Airport
• The East Central Indiana region is within easy reach of air cargo connections in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Dayton, Cincinnati and Louisville.

Local General Aviation Airports: Serves local/regional markets. 10 or more annual instrument operations and 15 or more based aircrafts OR annual passenger boarding’s of 2,500 or more (usually not scheduled service but charter).

Basic/Uncategorized: Often serves critical aeronautical functions within local and regional markets. 10 or more based aircraft OR 30 or more miles from the nearest NPIAS airport OR critical community service provided by a Federal service Or a new airport or replacement facility after Jan 1, 2001.

• With over 400 miles of coastline on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, Indiana’s ports are well connected to the country’s two largest inland waterway systems – the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway and Inland Waterways System (Ohio-Mississippi Rivers) – which provide access to world markets through the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.
• Indiana has 3 major ports including: Burns Harbor, Mount Vernon, and Jeffersonville.

Additional Resources

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is responsible for constructing and maintaining interstate highways, U.S. routes and state roads in Indiana, including adjacent overpasses, ramps and traffic control devices, including signs and traffic signals, on these roadways. Local cities, counties and towns are responsible for Indiana roadways that are not interstate highways, U.S. routes, or state roads.

INDOT also administers federal highway funds provided to cities, towns and counties, and supports and provides financial assistance to public transit systems, freight and passenger rail and port facilities. INDOT also encourages and assists in the development of airports, landing fields, and other aviation navigation facilities. INDOT has six district offices that handle day-to-day operations such as construction and detours, traffic signal operations, permits, and maintenance operations, including repairing potholes and plowing snow, along with various other responsibilities.

The state of Indiana has an accelerated application process for Foreign Trade Zones in all 92 counties. If you do business internationally, the Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) program might save you time, money and inefficiencies. Depending on the company and the type of activities you wish to do there are many benefits to the FTZ program. See example numbers related to the value of these benefits here: Savings Examples & Calculator.

Conexus Indiana leads initiatives, research, partnerships, and opportunities for the logistics industry, economic development officials, public and private investors, government, educators and more. Central to this effort is the Conexus Indiana Logistics Council, a statewide partnership of logistics executives and stakeholders working together to implement strategic initiatives around infrastructure, innovation, public policy, and workforce development needs. CILC also created six regional logistics councils that identified the regional and local needs in their respective areas.

Resources

Established in 2005, the East Central Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to market the assets and resources of the 10 county East Central Indiana region. The Partnership teams with local economic development organizations and the state’s lead economic development agency – the Indiana Economic Development Corporation – to bring capital investment and new jobs to the region and to assist existing businesses grow and prosper.